Timer Keenan fixture at ringside

When Rick Keenan volunteered his services as a timekeeper for Hubbard High School track meets, little did he know that he would become one of the area’s most sought after stopwatch owners.

That was 30 years ago and while it was on the cinders where he cut his timing teeth, it has been in the boxing arena where he’s evolved into one of the state’s most respected timers.

“I bought that first stopwatch because I loved being involved with track meets and also because I wanted to do the best and most accurate job that I possibly could,” Keenan said. “I also loved going to the many boxing cards that were held in the area and after Tony Maiorana showed me the ropes on how to keep time for boxing, I became hooked.”

Keenan happened to wander over to the K.O. Drugs’ High School Boxing Tournament when it first started three decades ago. When founder Chuck Nelson was in need of a bell-ringer, it was Keenan’s services he secured.

That was more than 3,000 fights ago. During that time, he’s been a ringside fixture for not only Nelson’s many amateur cards, but for other amateur and professional boxing shows as well.

“I actually got my professional license before my amateur card which to me, still remains kind of perplexing,” Keenan said.

Keenan points out that both shows are fun to work, yet there is a distinct difference between the two levels.

“In the amateur ranks, it’s all you as you are responsible for keeping time for each round, providing 10-second warnings and then lending back-up on knockdowns,” he said. “In the pros, I’ll serve as timer then there’s my back-up and yet another individual who is responsible for knockdowns.

“Professionally, we all have to be on the same page and must work together as a cohesive unit.”

His importance to a fight has never been more evident than when a round is nearing completion, only to have one boxer send the other to the canvas.

“You cannot be saved by the bell; it’s as simple as that,” Keenan said. “Someone lands a haymaker with under 10 seconds remaining in a round and I need to serve as back-up to the referee to make sure that everything comes off without any problems.”

Known to all as “Candy Man” because he distributes wrapped cr ®me savers to everyone ringside and the many workers and staff at each event, he tries to get to an amateur card before doors officially open so that he can set up shop.

At a pro card, he allows more time in order to meet with referees and if television is involved, with all key personnel that will be calling the shots so that commercials and breaks are coordinated.

He’s worked with HBO, ESPN and Showtime, and top-notch referees like Steve Smoger and Frank Garcia nationally and Jimmy Villers and Bernie Profato on the local level.

He called each very professional.

“Every boxer is giving it their all in the ring so you have to give it your all whether serving as referee, judge or timer,” Keenan said. “When I worked with those televising Kelly Pavlik’s fights, most especially at the Covelli Centre, the crowd was so loud that they had to put a microphone by the bell in order to ensure they heard loud and clear when it was rung.”

Preparing for the unexpected has been Keenan’s forte and he’s proud to never have been caught shorthanded.

“I keep three watches on the table with me at all times, simply for emergency use,” Keenan said. “You had also better have extra batteries because even when you insert a new one prior to an event, they aren’t always guaranteed to work and can eventually fail.”

Tom Miller, international boxing judge from Mineral Ridge, said Keenan must have owl eyes as a timer, much like the referee and judges.

“Everyone remembers the referee and judges are highly recognizable as well,” Miller said. “Unless there is a problem with the timing, however, then the timekeeper is rarely ever singled out or mentioned.”

A recovering drug addict and alcoholic, Keenan will celebrate 43 years of sobriety this year, noting that “there truly has been a Jesus in my life when I needed Him most. In a split second He changed me and just like a quick knock down, He was there to pick me up,” Keenan said.

He’ll no doubt spend that anniversary at a boxing match, distributing those cr ®me savers confections with which he has become so infamously associated over the years.

Greg Gulas writes about the fight games for The Vindicator. Contact him at sports@vindy.com.